4 American National Parks for Your Travel Bucket List

From snow-capped peaks to scorching gorges, American national parks give us the opportunity to experience some of the wildest scenery in the world. Here are four national parks that should be on your travel bucket list. Exploring the wilderness can be thrilling but risky, so don’t forget to invest in some USA travel insurance before you jet off!

Awe-Inspiring Arizona

I’m starting with one of the most iconic national parks in the country: Arizona’s Grand Canyon. Thanks to its pink and orange hues, the vast canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. At the base of the strikingly deep gorge, geologists have found stone that is billions of years old. And in human history, evidence of habitation even pre-dates Stonehenge.

Tips:

• Every year, people suffer from Arizona’s extreme heat, making it somewhat dangerous to walk through and explore the area. Make sure you are well-prepared for the conditions by pacing yourself, staying hydrated and bringing sunscreen and protective hats with you.
• Plan far in advance. If you want to reach the bottom of the canyon – on the back of a mule or via a walking tour – you might need to book a whole year in advance. At least that’ll give you plenty of time to secure your USA travel insurance!

Tree-Huggers in California

If you can get your arms round California’s giant redwoods in Redwood National Park, I’ll be impressed. This park houses the decedents of an ancient forest, which once covered more than 2 million acres. The state of California has worked hard over the past decades to preserve what is left of this remnant of North America’s past, and has even replanted redwood seedlings in areas that were previously exposed to excessive logging.

Tips:

• Although summer is a lovely time to visit, the area is inundated with migratory birds in spring and autumn – a nature lover’s dream.

It’s Hot in Wonderful Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is home to hundreds of geysers and thousands of hot springs. We’ve all heard of the famous ‘Old Faithful’ geyser, but further away from the day trippers, you can explore just under 1,000 miles of trails and the beautiful Yellowstone River. The history of this region dates back to when Native Americans fished and hunted in the area a whopping 11,000 years ago.

Tips:

• Don’t let the impressive thermal features distract you from the other geographical wonders and the impressive range of wildlife. I’m talking bears, moose, wolves, bison and more – Yellowstone has some pretty thrilling mammals roaming around.

Cool Colorado

The Rocky Mountain National Park is on my personal travel bucket list. In the late 1800s, towns in this area were established as settlers came searching for gold. Though they weren’t successful, they realised the aesthetic worth of this region, and it was turned into a national park in 1915. With challenging hikes, beautiful wilderness and interesting wildlife, the Rockies have something amazing in store for everyone. The scale of alpine wonders is breath-taking: the park boasts 72 peaks over 12,000 feet!

Tips:

• Watch out for altitude sickness. This can afflict even the fittest hikers with nausea, headaches and more. To stay safe, pace yourself – not to mention that USA travel insurance will allow you to keep a cool head!

Author Plate

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of InsureMore, an award-winning team of specialists in global single trip, family and annual travel policies including USA travel insurance. Besides offering great deals on travel insurance, Patrick also collects and shares the best free travel competitions to help his clients get the most out of their holidays.